January and February make the perfect time
for a visit to Laredo thanks to the annual George Washingtons
Birthday celebration. This is one of South Texass largest
festivals with over 400,000 attendees. Sporting events, a children's
carnival, dances, parades, and gala balls fill the month-long event
with revelry.

How It Began

Starting in 1898, the George Washington Birthday Celebration began
as a way to spread international goodwill between the neighboring
countries. It all began when a Laredo men's organization, the Red
Men and the White men, held a mock battle representing a fight for
possession of the city, culminating in an unconditional surrender
when the Mayor gave the key to the city to Great Chief Sachem.

How does this relate to George Washington? Coincidentally, the American
leader was named Sachem by the Sons of Liberty when they disguised
themselves as Indians during their battle for freedom. Because of
this, the Laredo organization picked the first president's birthday
as the occasion for the remembrance of this event.

WBCA Today

Todays celebration includes several major
events:

 WBCA Carnival

 the WBCA Stars and Stripes Air Show
Spectacular

 the Anheuser-Bush Washingtons
Birthday Parade

 street parties

 pageants. For all its fun, food,
and fireworks, the event is also noted because of its elegant balls.
The Princess Pocahontas Pageant and Ball features Laredo debutantes
wearing Native American regalia, with some gowns taking as long
as two years to research and prepare. The Society of Martha Washington
Colonial Pageant and Ball, one of the largest social events in South
Texas, draws many spectators.

For all its gaiety, however, there is a serious side to this event,
and that is evidenced at the International Bridge Ceremony,
beginning with a symbolic abrazo or hug when two Laredo children
embrace two Nuevo Laredo youths; leaders from the two cities then
follow and unite on the international bridge. The event continues
with the playing of both national anthems and the remembrance of
the friendship between the two nations. The ceremony is followed
by a spectacular parade.

Jalapeño Festival

One of the biggest events during the celebration is the Jalapeño
Festival, now over a century old. The two-day
event (nicknamed the Hottest Weekend of the Year) features
plenty of literally mouthwatering food served with plenty of live
music. Events range from the La Costeña Jalapeño Eating
Contest to a jalapeño pizza eating contest to the popular
International Waiters Race, where waiters from both sides of the
border race a course while balancing a tray a bottle of champagne
and a set of glasses.

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